History isn’t just dates and dusty pages—it’s drama, struggle, and the fight to survive. Step into the past on April 24 at noon, as Karen Foresti Hempson brings the Great Depression and World War II roaring back to life with her gripping novel, Shellback.

Inspired by real people from Utica, Shellback follows a young boy, born to Italian immigrant parents, who dreams of escaping poverty. His path leads him from the hardships of the 1930s to the high seas of the Pacific Theater, where he sails into the heart of history—facing Pearl Harbor, the Aleutian Islands, Guam, Tarawa, and Saipan. Through painstaking research and vivid storytelling, Hempson blends fact and fiction, immersing readers in the slang, music, movies, and everyday struggles of the time.

🔎 What to Expect:

A thrilling journey into one of history’s most turbulent eras
The untold stories of immigrants, sailors, and survivors
A fresh perspective on World War II—through the eyes of those who lived it

Bring your own lunch if you like—we’ll provide a beverage and dessert. Admission is FREE for Cortland County Historical Society members and just $5 for future members.

📍 Where? Cortland County Historical Society (Parking on Homer Ave. or Maple Ave.)
📞 Questions? Call 607-756-6071

Come for the history, stay for the stories that refuse to be forgotten. ⏳⚓ #CortlandCuriosities #LostInTime #WWIIHistory #ImmigrantJourneys